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Cisco updates joint CRM system with Microsoft
InfoWorld - Apr 25, 2006
The software creates automatic screen pop ups with caller information, provides click-to-dial capability, captures call information and creates customer records. It delivers these features on a PC through integration with Cisco IP (Internet Protocol) phones. The latest version, Unified CRM Connector 3. 0, is integrated with the recently announced Microsoft Dynamics CRM 3... It expects to deploy version 3. 0 later this year or in the first half of next year, said Dominic Roberts, vice president of information services. GreenStone started using Microsoft Dynamics CRM a few years ago to bring together customer data from several different platforms, Roberts said. The result has been better customer service, because employees have more information at hand: for example, what each customer has bought and what promotions they have already been offered. The extension of CRM Connector to Cisco IP phones will be a major benefit of the new version, Roberts said. "They don't like it when 10 windows pop up in their face when they're looking at a CRM screen," Roberts said. "They would love to have two screens.
http://www.infoworld.com/archives/emailPrint.jsp?R=printThis&A=/article/06/04/25/77731_HNciscocrm_1.html
Google on the Inside [Fool.com] April 20, 2006
Motley Fool - Apr 20, 2006
Given the enormous amount of corporate data on intranets, corporate search looks like yet another multibillion-dollar market opportunity for Google. Microsoft is a selection of the Inside Value newsletter service. Check out our entire suite of newsletters by clicking.
http://www.fool.com/News/mft/2006/mft06042019.htm
"Software As a Service" Hits Sweet Spot
BusinessWeek - Apr 13, 2006
He claims businesses will ultimately benefit from trends developing in the consumer space. "We have to show what's possible and we need to show people how they can move away from these old client-server companies," Benioff told silicon. The ease of implementation which on-demand vendors tout will also be the factor which keeps them honest and competitive, said Qualys' Courtot -- because if it's easy to switch on, then it's just as easy to switch over... Courtot said this contrasts starkly with the large enterprise software vendors. "Once they've got you, they'll milk you," he said. Evan Goldberg, chairman, founder and CTO of CRM vendor NetSuite, is another relying on software as a service hitting the big time. com he believes all applications will eventually be accessed online. "I have a very big vision of where software as a service can go," said Goldberg, adding his vision is for the industry as a whole -- way outside just the areas in which.
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/apr2006/gb20060413_756585.htm?campaign_id=search
Salesforce.com moves spark M&A FUD
Inquirer - Apr 14, 2006
Salesforce can hardly complain ifit is closely watched given that it has pursued one of the most regimented PR campaigns in living history and that itis probably the hottest thing in enterprise IT today. On the one hand, he's always ready to paint Microsoft as a laggard in software-as a-service. On the other hand he, likemany others, would like to replay the way Bill Gates built his money-magnet platform. The success of Microsoft's Windows ecosystem was built in part on its excellent relationships with smaller ISVs. Corel, Micrografx and a ton of others rode on that gravy train and, early on at least, Microsoft resisted thetemptation to throw its money at market domination in every sector. Even the success of the Office stack was based on minor acquisitions and organic development... Even the success of the Office stack was based on minor acquisitions and organic development. Microsoft built abetter mousetrap while Novell, WordPerfect, Borland, Aston-Tate, Lotus, SPC and the rest overreached or just gotstrategy plain wrong. Salesforce's plan is to make AppExchange its OS-like platform for ISVs to add in functionality that complementsSalesforce's core salesforce automation and CRM strengths. The question at least some of these ISVs will be asking iswhether this is because Salesforce doesn't want to step on partners' toes or because it just hasn't yet had the time tosteamroller over them. For that reason alone, the purchase of Sendia, an AppExchange partner, might alarm others on AppExchange concernedabout having an erstwhile friend turn competitor. Or have them dreaming of a big pay day - perhaps both. In his ZDNet blog, Phil Wainewright looks at areas for potential Salesforce suitors.
http://www.theinquirer.net/?article=31011
Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Apr 21, 2006
Guidance for the second quarter of a 3-cent
to 7-cent profit and revenue of $359 million to $367
million was also in line with analyst expectations. One
positive from the report was the company's announcement
that it will begin building chips for the Xbox 360 video-
game console in 2007 through a direct relationship with
Microsoft. In the past, Chartered dealt with IBM when
building parts for Microsoft, and cutting out the middle
man should boost Chartered's margins going forward. We
believe shares could be worth more than $15 in 2006 as
utilization rates continue to increase and gross margins
approach peak 2000 levels of 30% from 11% now. For
instance, the stock was recently changing hands at just
seven times 2007 earnings-per-share (EPS) analyst
estimates vs. an industry average of 21. We maintain our
One rating... We believe valuation of 3. 5 times 2006 analyst
revenue estimates vs. 11 times for competitor
Salesforce.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/archives/200604211657.html
Google's Corporate Makeover - Forbes.com
Forbes - Apr 18, 2006
Google's move to open up its enterprise offering to big software developers is parallel to moves the company has made with other products, like giving outsiders the ability to create "mash-ups" with their software and Google Maps. The company said it will also allow smaller players to create add-ons for the enterprise line. They're already showing off some examples, such as the ability to search and display someone's Microsoft Exchange contact information within the Google interface, and even inviting a co-worker to a meeting without leaving your Web browser. "Search to me is really the next big move to get people access to all the information--not just the documents, but the data--in the enterprise context," says Robert Ashe, chief executive of Cognos, whose business software data will now be accessible through OneBox. Google hopes its new partnerships, which were first reported Tuesday by Business 2. 0, will help boost its share in the enterprise search and information access market which research firm Gartner estimates will hit almost $370 million worldwide this year. Gartner analyst Whit Andrews estimates that Google accounted for between 10% and 20% of new search licenses sold last year, amid competition from business-software giants Microsoft (nyse:.
http://www.forbes.com/intelligentinfrastructure/2006/04/18/google-enterprise-search_cx_df_0418google.html
Dear Subscriber to TheStreet.com Stocks Under $10,
thestreet.com - Apr 13, 2006
Now let's take a look at the portfolio and some of the
moves we made this week. One quick note: Ones are stocks we would buy now, while
Twos are stocks we would buy only on a pullback from
current levels. And as a reminder:
-- A Game Breaker is going to change the landscape of an
industry, as Intel, Microsoft and Wal-Mart did in their
sectors. Investors can make big money in these stocks by
getting in before the crowd. -- Inflection Point stocks have a broken business model
that's on the mend but has yet to be recognized by the
market. Investors who recognize a turnaround early can
pocket strong returns. -- Stealth Stocks are often unknown names to the general
public, but can be hugely profitable investments,
especially when they score well in the Alpha component of
our proprietary rating system.
http://www.thestreet.com/k/su/archives/200604131656.html
See you.
